Message:Sefer Ha’mitzvos Ha’Katzar (The concise book of mitzvos)
By the Chofetz Chaim

This book lists the Torah mitzvos that can be observed today

Second Section – the Negative Commandments

157. It is a negative commandment "do not destroy any holy thing and do not erase one of the Holy Names of G-d

As it states in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 12:4, "do not do this to G-d." There are seven names of G-d that cannot be erased. A person who erases even one letter from any of them receives lashes. A person who erases a suffix to a name of G-d, like the "chaf" at the end of "your (singular) G-d" [the chaf means your] or the "chaf mem" at the end of "your (plural) G-d" [the chaf mem means your], receives lashes of disobedience. If a vessel has the name of G-d on it, the name should be cut out and buried. If a person wrote the name of G-d on a piece of metal and then melted the metal, he receives lashes. For Holy Writings and their commentaries which a Jew wrote with holiness, if they are destroyed, the person receives lashes of disobedience. If they were written by a heretic, they are to be burned along with the name that is on them. It is forbidden to break or destroy any holy object.